Battle over the Capital Region Multiple Listing Service

A battle between the Greater Capital Association of Realtors and the Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Association of Realtors over control of the CRMLS is in court and endangers the lifeblood of real estate agents. As Larry Rulison wrote in his story today, “although much of the job description of a real estate agent is networking and making personal contacts, the multiple listing service, or MLS, is their lifeblood. It also helps ensure an orderly and efficient real estate market with the sharing of information on properties for sale and broker compensation.”

GCAR president Jim Ader had little to say to Larry yesterday, but sent a message to reassure to his membership this morning. It reads, in part:

As you may know, GCAR offered the Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Association of REALTORS (SSSAR) numerous alternatives to dissolution which would have allowed SSSAR to continue to be involved in the management of CRMLS. However, SSSAR’s rejection of the various proposals resulted in our concluding that dissolution of CRMLS and the creation of a new multiple listing service (without any interruption in service to GCAR’s members) would best serve our short and long term needs. (It should be noted that our shareholders’ agreement specifically contemplates this possibility.)
Please be assured that while the name of your multiple listing service might change there will be no gap in service to you. You will continue to have access to CRMLS (or a look-alike multiple listing service) regardless of what happens in court. GCAR’s board of directors would not let anything affect your usage of this valuable business tool.